Improvement in floating powers



-J'. L. SHIPE.

FLOATING POWER. l No, 181,988` Patented Sept. 5,1876.

ATTORN EYS N,FETERS, PHoo-LITNQGRAPHER. wAsmNGToN. D. C.

JOHN L. SHIFE, OF CLINTON, TENNESSEE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLOATING POWERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,988, dated September 5, 1876; application led August 5, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, JOHN LAFAYET SHIPE, of Clinton, in the county of Anderson and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in a Floating Power to Run Machinery; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a side view of my floating power with one wheel off, and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

This invention relates to apparatus for transmitting the power of running water to machinery; and it consists in two waterwheels journaled in a tilting frame pivoted to the sides of a boat or floating dock, in combination with a rotating shaft and drum or pulley and power-transmitting belt, and with a lever, lwhich operates to raise said wheels out of the water when it is desired to render them inoperative, and to lower them at will.

In theannexed drawings,A indicates a boat or floating dock,l the sides A A of which are recessed on top at a. To sides A A', at the rear ends of recesses c, are hinged the rear ends of longitudinal tilting frame B, the sides of which set into recesses a when lowered. C C

are vertical guide-posts secured to the top of sides A' A', and pass through guide-slots c in the sides of frame B. Their office is to regulate the movement of said frame, protecting the hinges against lateral strain.

In frame B is journaled a transverse rotating shaft, D, which bears on its ends, outside of boat A, water-wheels E E. On said shaft is secured a drum or pulley, F. G is a supplemental rotating shaft, having secured upon, and rotating` with it, a smaller drum, g, and bevel-geared wheel g. Saidsupplemental shaft is journaled in the sides Al A of boat A.' H is a belt, which passes over drums F and g, and transmits power from the 'one to the other. I is a rope or chain foranchoring the boat. 1

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The boat A being anchored in a shoal or other part of a stream where the current is swift, said current will turn water-wheels E E and shaft D, transmitting the power thence through belt H to drum g, shaft G, and bevelwheel g', whence it is communicated kto the machinery which is to be operated.

Another belt might be substituted for the bevel-wheel g.

The devices for throwing the apparatus out of operation are as follows: A vertical standard, J, is attached to the bottom of boat A, and a shifting-lever, K, of the first kind, is pivotedV thereon, with its short arm over the front of tilting frame B, and its long arm extending backward for the convenience of the operator.

The short arm k of said lever is detachably connected to the front of said tilting frame by means of a wire loop or bail, L, which catches into a notch or groove, k1, on the top of said arm k. The long arm k2 of said lever tapers to its rear end, so that when depressed and turned a little to one side it will catch under a hook, M, which is rigidly attached to the end of boat A. When said lever is so secured, the Wheels E E are held out of water, and the apparatus will not opcrate.

When said lever is released from said hook, and the pressure of the operators hand is withdrawn, the weight of hinged frame B' and the devices attached thereto or journaled therein will cause said wheels to drop into the water again, and the operation of the apparatus will recommence. Bail L should then be detached from lever K, to avoid any accidental interference with the workin g of wheels E E which might arise from the careless depression of the long arm 7a2 of said shifting lever K.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is A l. The combination of tilting frame B, carrying shaft D, drum F, and wheels E E, with standard J and shifting-lever K, substantially In testimony that I claim the above I haveas and for the purpose set forth. hereunto subscribed rny name in the presence 2. The combination of the lever K, having of two Witnesses. its fulcrunl in standard J, hook M, pivoted frame B, with shaft D, and Wheels E E, sub- JOHN LAFAYET SHIPE. stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of frame B with lever Witnesses: K and detachable connection L, substantially JOHN ALLEN, as and for the purpose set forth. SAMUEL SHIPE. 

